Wind-deflector shield



Jan. 1925- 1,522,238

J. s. GRINDEE WIND DEFLECTOR SHIELD Filed Jan. 28: 1924 ATTORNE Patented Jan. 6, 1925 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOEL s. enrniann, or SEATTLE, wesmneron.

WIND-DEFLEC'IOR SHIELD.

Application filed January 28, 1924. Serial No. 688,964.

-To all whom it may concern:

revolve around said mast withthe direction of the wind and to deflect the wind from objects are to manufactured at a comparatively small cost.

With the above and other objects in view which will appear as the description procoeds, the invention consists of the novel shiel construction, adaptation, arrangement and combination of parts hereinafter described and claimed. These objects are accomplished by devices illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Fi re 1 is a view in side elevation showing t e device installed on a mooring tower and an air craft secured thereto;

Fi 2 is a view in side elevation of the and showing portions of the tower and air craft; 3

Fig. 3 is-a view in front elevation of the same;

Fig. 4 is a view in longitudinal vertical section taken substantially ona broken line 4, 4 of Fig. 3; and 3 Fig. '5 is a view. in transverse vertical section taken on a broken line 5, 5 of Fig. 4.

Referring more-particularly to the draw ings throughout "which likereference" nu-,

morals designate like parts, the numeral 5 indicates a mooring tower having a mast 6 mounted on its upper platform. The shield,

designated as a whole by the numeral 7, is.

centrally provided with a mooring pin 8 whose outer end is secured to said mast by a. ball bearing connection or other anti-friction device' as shown at-9 in Fig. 4t. I

- The skin or covering 10 of the shield 7 is preferably made of relatively thin sheet metal formed in the shape of a concaved cone, although the device is not limited to this particular shape or details of construction. Segmental vanes 11 are radially arranged in spaced apartrelation to fit the exterior contour of the skin 10 and are together secured to the mooring pin 8 by screws or other suitable fastenings shown at 12 in the drawings.

Strengthening ribs 13 are arranged on the inside of the skin 10 directly under each of the vanes 11 and are secured through said skin to said vanes by screws or the like. The inner or converging ends of said ribs are separated from said skin and are fastened vto a transverse plate 14 secured around the I mooring pin 8 and to the interior surface of said skin for the purpose of reinforcing the forward end of said shield as clearly shown in Fi 4 of the drawings. The inner end of the pin 8 is provided with an eye15 to which the dirigible or other air craft, designated by the numeral 16, is made fast by means of a cable 17 or other suitable mooring.

The shield 7 is provided with an opening through the skin 10 designated by the numoral 18 and steps 19 mounted on said shieldwithin said openin are arranged so that passengers may rea ily go on board the air craft from the upper platform of the tower 5. An annular track 20 is mounted on said platform concentric with the mast 6 and rollers 21 secured to said shield substantially at its center of gravity are arranged to engage,said track for reasons presently set forth.

In the operation. of my wind deflector shield, assuming that a dirigible is secured thereto as shown in the drawings, the wind blowing from the forward end will strike the apex of the cone, and, with the assistance of the. vanes 11, the longitudinal or horizontal axis of the shield 7 will assume the direction from'which the wind is blowing. The shield is'light in weightcompared with its surface area and any shifting of the wind will cause said shield to turn therereason of the ball bearing connection 9 and with its weight carried by the ball bearing rollers '21 and track 20, thus causing said shield to revolvably retain its alignment with" the direction of the wind at all times as will be readily understood.

It W111 be obvious that the wind will be deflected outwardly all around the shield by reason of its conical shape which is concaved for the purpose of increasing the outward deflection. The increased air pressure immediately around the larger end of the shield as the wind leaves same will in itself serve to continuethedeflection of the wind for which reason the diameter of said shield may be smaller than the greatest diameter of the dirigible. The diameter of the shield is made sulficient to deflect thev windfrom impinging on any part of the diri'gible forward of its greatest diameter and at the same time so that the wind will again assume its horizontal directionat the point of the dirigibles greatest diameter,

thus causing same to ride easily in a suspended horlzontal posltion and serv ng as a protection against damage or danger of being blown away during stormy. weather.

Having thus described my invention .what a I claim is v 1. The combination with a dirigible mooring mast of a wind deflector shield comprising a divergentbody, anti-friction connecting means for the smaller end'of said shield whereby same may revolve around said mast, vanes for said shield, track means for supporting said shield, and passage means carried by said shield'substantially as specified.

2. The combination with a dirigible mooring mast of a wind deflector shieldcom- 

